A Very Special Birthday and Mother's Day

Last year, my birthday fell on the Thursday before Mother's Day weekend. That evening I went out with a special friend to a Loreena McKennit concert (celtic-gypsy music, one of my fave's) and I proceeded to make it a three day weekend by taking the next day off of school. After doing whatever it is I did all day, I went out that evening with another special friend to scrap for several hours (another fave of mine). I didn't think the weekend could get much better, but it did!

Later that weekend we were approached by family members asking if we would be interested in persuing an interfamily adoption. James and I were totally taken by surprise, but after thinking about it we decided that it was a sign, a gift from above. The timing could not have been better. We had just finished all of our paperwork and chomping at the bit to be parents.

So, Mother's Day of 2007 we decided to persue an adoption. We didn't know when Charlotte would be due. We didn't know if she was a girl or not. We didn't know a lot of things, but over the following weeks we learned all about her and spent a lot of time talking with her birth mother, James' neice. She was born six weeks later and I have been a mom ever since (and James has been the most loving and involved father!)

That was Mother's Day last year. This year, my very first official Mother's Day was also my birthday. Last year was very special and I will never forget that weekend, but this year was even better! I got to share it with my husband and my daughter.

Please enjoy our pictures.

Checking out the goats in the petting zoo.

Charlotte and James pretending to be groundhogs.

She digs the giraffes.

Hangin' with Pops.

Happy girl.

A few days later, Charlotte got her first hair cut. As you can see, she thought it was total bull*&%t. I tried to comfort her, but between the cold water, the scissors, and Daddy snapping pictures, she was not a happy camper.

The new haircut in all it's glory.